Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva could not attend the meeting with Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday because three intelligence sources had warned him he might be putting his life in danger.

Democrat Party deputy spokesperson Mallika Boonmeetrakool said yesterday that intelligence sources from the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), the Democrat Party and state security agencies all warned that Abhisit would not be safe if he attended the meeting, she said.

The Democrat Party has asked the caretaker government to confirm if there was indeed an "assassination" team comprised of a group from Lampang that is allegedly in town to identify the target, a group from Klong Toei and another that created a bloody scene at Ramkhamhaeng University in November last year.

"If the government is sincere, then it should check whether the group that stayed at a resort on Ram-Indra Road was the same group that had previously committed a crime and has, so far, been let off scot free," she said.

Meanwhile, red-shirt leader Lungyim Tasawang admitted that he had Phalang Prathet Thai Party leader Dachai Uchukosolkarn carrying a placard featuring the message: "To reform the country, first reform the Democrat Party and the Election Commission before elections'' at the EC-hosted meeting.

He also said that after Abhisit did not show up at the meeting, he posted a message on his Facebook saying: "The meeting has not started, waiting for Abhisit. Going to order brother Sangiem to shoot twice so they disperse and go home."

Lungyim insisted that this message was insignificant and reasoned that everybody knew that some groups would lay siege to the meeting.

"Even Banharn's group could not attend. Everybody knows that if Abhisit fails to reach an agreement with Suthep, everyone will end up being held hostage," he said.

Apart from Abhisit, Pheu Thai Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan also did not show up at the meeting.

Meanwhile, EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn voiced concern over the shooting incident that took place on Tuesday morning near the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road.

He said bomb specialists had been asked to scan the area for explosive devices but rejected the possibility of suicide bombs.